Police seize over $800K worth of cocaine during traffic stop

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Police Department has announced good police work led to the seizure of over $800,000 worth of cocaine. They say a dangerous drug suspect is now in custody -- along with two others, and over $145,000 in cash has been recovered.

Police say 11 plastic baggies filled with cocaine were recovered during a traffic stop on September 30th. Police say 47-year-old Hector Lechuga Sandoval was behind the wheel. 

Milwaukee Police Captain Anthony Smith says law enforcement was already looking into Sandoval, with some cases involving thousands of man hours.

On October 1st, police officers and an FBI special agent assigned to the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Drug Gang Task Force responded to the suspect's home, located in the 2600 block of W. Legion. A K-9 officer also responded, and alerted to the presence of controlled substances on the outside of the suspect's vehicle. 

Police issued a warrant for the vehicle, and inside, located four kilos of cocaine and $36,500 in cash. An additional $1,000 was located under a cover on the driver's seat, and an additional $6,600 was located in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

Police issued a warrant on the suspect's residents in the 2600 block of W. Legion, where $65,000 was recovered in a shoebox in the kitchen. 

Police then issued a search warrant on a related residence in the 1600 block of W. Lincoln where $35,305 was recovered.

Then, police located and recovered a 2002 Ford Harley-Davidson pickup truck and receipt for the truck, which belongs to the suspect at a home in the 2200 block of S. 21st Street.

The team effort by all members resulted in the seizure of:

Law enforcement officials credit 10-year-old lab Duke in helping to identify the drugs. 

"Duke is a tremendous asset. We really couldn't do our jobs without these K-9s," Captain Smith said.